After a chance meeting with producer L.J. Sutton (a.k.a. Chocolate Starr) in Atlanta, Sarai was on her way to the big leagues. Sarai's potential and sex appeal led to her getting snapped up by Epic Records, making her the first white female rapper to have a major recording contract.
Sarai Howard was born in 1981, and grew up in Kingston, New York, a working-class city in upstate Ulster County. Sarai, along with her older brother Michael, was raised by her mother Teresa in a single-parent household. The family moved repeatedly, and Sarai attended many different local schools and held down dozens of part-time jobs.
Teresa's musical interests included The Police and Fleetwood Mac, and for a while, Sarai's taste in tunes mirrored her mother's. "I'm a straight MTV baby," Sarai later explained.
But it was Sarai's brother, more a fan of genre pioneers Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C. and NWA, who first introduced her to rap and hip-hop. Soon Sarai was into Jay-Z, Tupac and Notorious BIG. Meanwhile, by the time Sarai was in high school, she was acting in plays, singing in the choir, and writing poetry.
When Sarai was 15, she improvised a joke rhyme about some of the other girls in their town while hanging out with her friends. Sarai's rapping continued as a hobby for a few years after that, as she was finishing high school and making plans to attend a community college in Kingston.
At 17, when Sarai and one of her friends were vacationing in Atlanta, Sarai was discovered. Sarai's friend struck up a conversation with some men at a gas station; when they said they worked at a nearby recording studio, Sarai impressed them with her flow, and was taken to meet producer L.J. Sutton, a.k.a. Chocolate Starr.
Before long, Sarai was traveling to Atlanta regularly for meetings and demo recordings.
In 2000, she moved south permanently to chase her dream of being a rapper. After two more years of laying the groundwork, Sarai landed a deal with Epic Records, becoming the first white female rapper to be represented by a major label.
In 2003, Sarai released her debut album, The Original, featuring the singles "Pack Ya Bags" and "Ladies." Radio DJs quickly took to calling her "Feminem," referring to the trailblazing Eminem. "I don't like it," commented Sarai at the time, "but I like him."
Although "Pack Ya Bags" and "Ladies" had some chart success, critics and fans were lukewarm about Sarai's talent. She couldn't quite shake her reputation as a novelty act -- a white girl in an industry dominated by black men.
More recently, Sarai has tried her hand at acting, taking a role in National Lampoon's Pledge This!.
Black and White
Sarai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If not that's fine won't let it hold me down
The mold I'm breakin out stereotypes
Like she can't rip the mic she's white
Get it right come to a show
Come to a session at the studio watch me flow
Watch the record sales watch me blow
Watch me get em all sayin oohh look at her go
Then cats eyes pop out like they brain gon burst
Get up in the club bout to rip a show up
They don't even know what I'm there for
Girls be like I can't believe she showed up
What's she doin here who let her in
Don't she see she don't belong yo she don't fit in
I don't fit in anywhere but everywhere at the same time
'Cause all different types of people vibe off the same rhyme
Instead of black and white could it be me and you
Look inside my soul tell me what's visible
Don't put me with the rest I'm an individual
Sometimes the best things lie beyond the physical
People like you aren't supposed to do what you do
People like me what the fuck people like you
That prejudge and can't get beyond the color lines
Corrupt children and they children's minds spread through bloodlines
Hatred is not an instinct
Get some education for ya ass and then tell me what ya think
Learn from those I come in contact watch for attack
Keep my guard up down for combat
Can't back away 'cause they don't see it my way
Or they not used to people like me comin they way
Only hate 'cause people fear the unknown
But fear drive me to take a chance and be bold
Try to knock me down gotta stay on my toes
Prevail winner of the game 'cause they think I'm gon fold
More than you see more than skin and bones
More than blood more than flesh I'm soul
Instead of black and white could it be me and you
Look inside my soul tell me what's visible
Don't put me with the rest I'm an individual
Sometimes the best things lie beyond the physical
Yeah it gets rough being the minority's tough
Yeah there's been times I felt like I had enough
Bout to give up but I held strong
Felt like lettin' go of my dreams but I held on
I can't let anyone stand in my way
Everyone got they opinion I don't care what they say
Out of NY moved to the LI-TH-ONIA down to Ga
Me and my roommate stand out in the complex
Ain't no thing I relate through rhyme contest
Earn my respect through rhymes
Rhymes help me get through times
When ignorant people creep under my skin and get to mines
I don't understand they mind state
Talk about both sides of the board dog they make me irate
Need to pick up a book and work they intellect
And let respect gain respect
Instead of black and white could it be me and you
Look inside my soul tell me what's visible
Don't put me with the rest I'm an individual
Sometimes the best things lie beyond the physical
In Sarai's song "Black & White," the lyrics talk about breaking out of the mold and stereotypes, with a focus on race. Sarai raps about how she doesn't fit into any one box, but rather she belongs everywhere through her music. She takes on the challenge of proving people wrong who don't believe in her or that she doesn't belong, stating that she has more to offer than just her skin and bones. Sarai talks about the struggles of being a minority and how people constantly want to judge and label her, but she won't let that hold her down. The song is a message of empowerment and individuality, encouraging people to look beyond the color lines and get to know someone's soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Questions in mind will I be accepted or not
Sarai is questioning whether or not she will be accepted by others for who she is.
If not that's fine won't let it hold me down
If Sarai is not accepted, she won't let it affect her negatively.
The mold I'm breakin out stereotypes
Sarai is breaking the stereotypes that people have about her.
Like she can't rip the mic she's white
People assume that because Sarai is white, she can't rap.
Get it right come to a show
Sarai wants people to come to her show and see her perform.
Come to a session at the studio watch me flow
Sarai wants people to come to her recording studio and watch her record music.
Watch the record sales watch me blow
Sarai wants people to watch her record sales skyrocket.
Watch me get em all sayin oohh look at her go
Sarai wants people to be amazed by her talent.
It ain't like that at first till I drop that first verse
People don't expect Sarai to be a good rapper until they hear her perform.
Then cats eyes pop out like they brain gon burst
Once people hear Sarai's first verse, they are surprised and impressed.
Get up in the club bout to rip a show up
Sarai is getting ready to perform and give a great show.
They don't even know what I'm there for
People don't know why Sarai is at the club and assume she doesn't belong there.
Girls be like I can't believe she showed up
Girls are surprised to see Sarai at the club and don't understand why she is there.
What's she doin here who let her in
People don't think Sarai belongs at the club and wonder who let her in.
Don't she see she don't belong yo she don't fit in
People think Sarai doesn't fit in and doesn't belong at the club.
I don't fit in anywhere but everywhere at the same time
Sarai feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere, but also fits in everywhere because of her music.
'Cause all different types of people vibe off the same rhyme
Sarai's music unites people from diverse backgrounds.
Instead of black and white could it be me and you
Sarai wants people to look beyond race and see her for who she is.
Look inside my soul tell me what's visible
Sarai wants people to see beyond her physical appearance and look into her soul.
Don't put me with the rest I'm an individual
Sarai wants people to recognize that she is unique and not just like everyone else.
Sometimes the best things lie beyond the physical
Sarai believes that the best things about a person can't be seen with the eyes alone.
People like you aren't supposed to do what you do
People have preconceived notions about what someone like Sarai is capable of.
People like me what the fuck people like you
Sarai is questioning why people are quick to put her in a box based on her race.
That prejudge and can't get beyond the color lines
People judge Sarai based on her skin color and are unable to look beyond it.
Corrupt children and they children's minds spread through bloodlines
Prejudice is passed down through generations and affects the way children think.
Hatred is not an instinct
Sarai believes that people are not born hating others.
Get some education for ya ass and then tell me what ya think
Sarai wants people to educate themselves on different cultures and races before making judgements.
Learn from those I come in contact watch for attack
Sarai tries to learn from her encounters with different people, but is also wary of potential discrimination.
Keep my guard up down for combat
Sarai has to be prepared for potential discrimination and always on guard.
Can't back away 'cause they don't see it my way
Sarai can't give up even when people don't accept her or understand her perspective.
Or they not used to people like me comin they way
Some people are not used to seeing someone like Sarai enter their space.
Only hate 'cause people fear the unknown
People hate what they don't understand or are unfamiliar with.
But fear drive me to take a chance and be bold
Sarai's fear pushes her to take risks and be confident in who she is.
Try to knock me down gotta stay on my toes
Sarai has to be prepared for discrimination and always stay strong.
Prevail winner of the game 'cause they think I'm gon fold
Sarai will come out on top despite people thinking she'll fail.
More than you see more than skin and bones
There is more to Sarai than just her physical appearance.
More than blood more than flesh I'm soul
Sarai's true essence comes from her soul and not just her physical being.
Yeah it gets rough being the minority's tough
Being a minority comes with its own difficulties and challenges.
Yeah there's been times I felt like I had enough
Sarai has faced discrimination and felt like giving up.
Bout to give up but I held strong
Despite feeling like giving up, Sarai persevered.
Felt like lettin' go of my dreams but I held on
Sarai refused to give up on her dreams despite adversity.
I can't let anyone stand in my way
Sarai won't let anyone stop her from achieving her dreams.
Everyone got they opinion I don't care what they say
Sarai won't let other people's opinions hold her back.
Out of NY moved to the LI-TH-ONIA down to Ga
Sarai moved from New York to Lithonia, Georgia.
Me and my roommate stand out in the complex
Sarai and her roommate are different from others in their living complex.
Ain't no thing I relate through rhyme contest
Sarai relates to people through her music and lyrical content.
Earn my respect through rhymes
Sarai earns respect from others through her music.
Rhymes help me get through times
Sarai's music helps her through tough times.
When ignorant people creep under my skin and get to mines
Sarai gets upset when people are ignorant and discriminate against her.
I don't understand they mind state
Sarai doesn't understand why people discriminate against her.
Talk about both sides of the board dog they make me irate
Sarai gets frustrated when people are hypocritical.
Need to pick up a book and work they intellect
Sarai thinks people should educate themselves to understand different cultures and races.
And let respect gain respect
Sarai thinks respect should be given to others to gain respect in return.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SARAI HOWARD, SCOTT STORCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind